CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bernie Sokolowski got a call from a hockey team from San Francisco coming in for Gay Games 9. They were looking forward to chowing down at his family's restaurant, Sokolowski's University Inn, in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.

Not just the food. Sokolowski's is a slice of Real Cleveland – a place where you get the feeling that thousands sat before you in your seat or booth.

There are a number of such places in town. Here are five things to do at places that will give you a sense of the city:

Lunch at Sokolowski's University Inn, 1201 University Road, Cleveland, 216-771-9236: This cafeteria-style eatery has been serving folks long before Tremont was a culinary delight. Of course, they come for pierogi and other Old World comforts. They still do – because the food rules. But there's something about the old bric-a-brac, the vintage vibe and the crowd that screams Cleveland.

The 3 a.m. scene at Steve's Lunch, 5004 Lorain Ave., Cleveland: Whoa, it's a cross between an Edward Hopper painting and a John Waters flick. The nighthawks at this 24/7 hot-dog diner can be a varied lot – cops, punks, hip-hoppers, two babes in the tightest leggings and tops I've EVER seen, and a chatty server who communicated with the cops via text message. "You can't find anything like this anywhere," a friend told me when I took him here after hours. Definitely not in a painting, but maybe a movie.

Happy Hour and the patio at Pier W, 12700 Lake Ave., Lakewood: Raise a glass to one of the town's top, most elegant Happy Hours and a patio that offers a killer view of downtown and Lake Erie. Oh, and raise a glass to the booze, since Pier W serves a fine drink list. Yes, it's elegant and snazzy, but the Happy Hour prices will make you feel like a king, even if you're a pauper.

Bowling at Mahall's Twenty Lanes, 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood: If bowling is a retro blast, then this is a prehistoric thrill ride. This circa-1924 alley still retains its old charm, look and vibe. Perfect game.

A walk around Tremont, on Cleveland's South Side: The chefs moved in and signaled a shift in Tremont's cultural vibe. There are a lot more foodies than artists these days. But the neighborhood still boasts a unique mix, where industry and art, Old World and new wave, intersect. It also has some great churches, including St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral (733 Starkweather Ave.), where some scenes from "The Deer Hunter" were shot. Prosperity Social Club (1109 Starkweather) is an old-school bar that attracts all walks. And, yes, there are the restaurants – too many to name, and some real good ones. The neighborhood hosts its monthly Tremont ArtWalk, starting at 6 tonight.

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